Frame

Congratulations to our colleagues at Healthworx on this re-imagined program! We were honored to be a part of the first generation via 1501 Health and are so grateful for your support of us and other early-stage companies. Onwards, together!

For many LGBTQ+ patients, a cancer diagnosis isn’t the only hurdle on their journey. A staggering 76% are uncomfortable sharing their gender identity with their healthcare provider, according to a study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This headline really struck me—empowering patients to have exactly these types of conversations is one of the most important things we do at Frame. We help them advocate for themselves and find the right provider. It reminded me of how we supported one of our very first members in 2021. She is a lesbian, didn’t have an Obgyn and didn’t feel comfortable talking to a doctor about her fertility goals. She and her partner were “stuck” in limbo for years, unsure of where to go and how they may be treated. Our first priority was helping this couple understand both her and her partner’s fertility health and then connecting them to a great clinic. We also counseled her on the importance of preventive screenings and finding the right set of doctors and Obgyn for her. These gaps in care mirrored the findings from the Dana-Farber Institute study about LGBTQ+ patients, too: ** 80% of patients reported not receiving appropriate preventive cancer screening ** Nearly a third (28%) did not have a healthcare provider ** And very significant to our work at Frame, less than half received counseling on the impact of cancer on fertility So as we conclude Pride Month, I hope we move well beyond just updating the colors of our logos and make sure that we continue the learnings, the research and the discussions about how we can best support LGBTQ+ patients. It will always remain core to our mission at Frame to empower anyone and everyone on their family building journey.  Article here: https://lnkd.in/g2V77prh

Now is the time to double down on #womenshealth. Anu Duggal, thank you for saying what needs to be said in your latest Fortune article. I read the article a few weeks ago, and I continue to have people forward it to me, even today. 2024 is THE year of women’s health. But it can’t just be A year. It has to be the beginning. So if you’re wondering, what now? What can I do? Now is the time to take action - and here are three potential ways you can impact women’s health. Let’s not let this moment go to waste. 1. JOIN THE CAUSE - sign up for newsletters like In Women's Health by Jodi Neuhauser FemHealth Insights by Brittany Barreto, Ph.D. or Femtech Insider that post about new jobs in women's health. You can also follow thought leaders and angels who regularly talk about the space, interesting companies and/or open needs/roles - e.g., Halle Tecco, MPH, MBA Lyndsey Harper, MD, FACOG, IF Christina Farr Leslie Schrock Neel Shah David Sable and many more (please add your favorites in the comments) 2. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS - this goes for everyone out there. Of course, if you’re a VC, invest in women’s health companies :) And for everyone else, there are plenty of great companies looking for angel investors and women’s health-focused funds looking for LPs. Buy and use products created by founders improving the status quo in women’s health. If you have a need, there’s an amazing founder building in the space. I used Allara to help better understand my PCOS. I just recommended Elektra Health and Midi Health to a friend struggling with perimenopause. And I just asked the head of a co-working space if she’s looked into Aunt Flow for their bathrooms. If you’re stumped on how to invest and/or find a company in a specific space, DM me. 3. SHARE YOUR STORY - and it doesn’t have to be on social media! Consider sharing with close friends or family. It’s likely that they’ve been there, too, and we need these stories out there. The level of chatter is a barometer for the need. Also consider sharing your story and pain point with companies building in that specific space. We can all learn from each other. I can’t tell you how much it makes my day to hear from someone I haven’t spoken to in ages who says, “I’ve been there. What you’re building is so needed.” We cannot let this moment pass. This is a movement and a shift that must continue. Please share any thoughts, recommendations, etc. in the comments.

"If we want to change outcomes in fertility and maternal health, the research and support needs to start before we’re at the point of a crisis. Family building is about so much more than procedures. It's about the entire experience – the mental, emotional, and social aspects. We need research that reflects this complexity. And that’s what we’re all about at Frame." Thank you to our CEO and co-founder Jessica Bell van der Wal for sharing her story as part of #EqualResearchDay today. We're proud to raise awareness for the gender health gap and advocate for inclusive research that represents all family building journeys. And a huge thank you to Evvy for starting Equal Research Day—learn more at https://lnkd.in/eskiU7zp #fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #genderhealthgap #healthresearch

Our Medical Director, Jennifer McLeland, MD MBA, Talks Motherhood & Fertility on the Mighty as a Mother Podcast In honor of World Infertility Awareness Month, we're proud to share that our Medical Director, Dr. Jennifer McLeland, OB/GYN, is featured on the latest episode of the Mighty as a Mother Podcast! Dr. McLeland offers a unique perspective, combining her personal experience as a mother of five with her deep expertise as a physician in women's health. Some of our favorite parts of the episode include: - How to talk about your fertility / family building goals with your provider - The top 3 questions to ask your provider when considering fertility treatment - Curating the right fertility testing for you (based on your health history) and the importance of testing male partners - How Frame is improving the patient and provider experience to optimize everyone’s time - Plus, her tried and true parenting tips and life hacks Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gA2TjW-t

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Chicago for the 2024 Midwest Reproductive Symposium (MRSi)! We’re also excited to sponsor the Welcome Reception on June 5 from 8pm - 11pm CT with GENESCREEN COUNSELING, LLC, Allkind, Path Fertility, and Blue Cardinal Advisors . See you there!

💵 ➡ 👶 Dollars to Baby ⏲ ➡ 👶 Time to Baby 😫 ➡ 👶 Life Disruption to Baby If you are not improving #ivf in these three areas, you are not adding value to the #fertility field. You are taking from the pie. 🥧 The man that tought me these were the three criteria that matter, is Dr. David Sable. In the coming months, Inside Reproductive Health will be assembling the IVF Heroes Universe, and attempting to record what each and every company in the #infertility space is doing to contribute to these areas. We hope for 100% participation.

Congratulations to Ndifreke Friday, Sophie Dornstreich, MSW, NBC-HWC, Amber White, and Sylvia Nguyen Dang for celebrating one year at Frame and to Liz Cary and Krystel Rae Davis for two years with our team! We wouldn't be where we are today without the talent, passion, and hard work of our amazing team. Thank you for everything you all do to support everyone that works with Frame!

Big thank you to Rescripted and Abby Mercado for featuring Frame CEO and co-founder, Jessica Bell van der Wal, as a women’s health maverick in honor of International Day of Action for Women’s Health this week! We’re proud to be featured alongside other women’s health founders who have turned their pain into purpose and taken action to better the health and wellness of women everywhere: Nadya O. from August, Suzie Welsh Devine from BINTO, Lauren Makler from Cofertility, Leslie Schrock, Ronit Menashe & Vida Delrahim from WeNatal, Samantha Diamond from Bird&Be, Margaret Melville from Lasa Health, Trish Encina from Modelo Health Inc, Joni Hanson Davis from Beli, Lindsay Beck from TMRW Life Sciences, Claire Tomkins from Future Family, Dr. Maya Kriseman of Aspire HFI, and Dr. Thanh Ha Lu of InVia Fertility. Read Jessica's story about how her own infertility journey inspired the creation of Frame here: https://lnkd.in/gETNYTUg #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #fertility #infertility